Living In Thailand On A 49,000Baht/mo Budget. Questions.

[farang000999]

how do you get by the in usa on that salary is the better question. it will be a piece of cake in thailand.

[overherebc]

Dare I throw this one in.

I see a lot of posts on living here on XXXXXX a month from people who are in their 20's/30's, great fun and enjoyable. Been there, seen that, done that.

Why do I never see anyone asking questions on the line of, Do you or any of your friends save any money in a good private pension scheme for your old age?

Believe me it feels like you went to bed one night in your 30's and woke up the next day in your 60's. ( Time flies, you can't, they pass too quickly) sorry.

Interested to know how many of you have made plans on those lines. Seems unimportant when you're younger but it sure is worth it. Believe me.

[qdinthailand]

Having already gone to the expense of building a place upcountry ... and Thai whisky at 120 baht a bottle!

...

That stuff will kill ya!

[trainman34014]

Having already gone to the expense of building a place upcountry, I could easily live there on 10k a month including household bills, food and Thai whisky at 120 baht a bottle!

Renting a place could be as little as 2k a month, depends on where and what you want. My Thai is poor, I don't gamble but I enjoy the mountains, waterfalls, fishing and generally chilling. I do download lots of movies and TV series to watch of an evening and I have a couple of dogs and a rai of land to potter about on.

Simple needs?

The High So's will be along shortly to tell you that you are up for Cheap Charlie of the year and that you shouldn't be living in Thailand if your not bringing in at least Half a million Baht a month to live on. It's ok because we don't take any notice of them either !

[IMA_FARANG]

Regarding "online work".

Yes it can be and probably is being done now.

However, the Thai work laws were not made for that, as they never expected such a thing years ago when the work laws were written.

You can work on-line but NOT legally without a work permit.

That's why you keep it very quiet about those "games" you play every day on-line.

You're NOT working, you're playing games.

The definition of "working in Thailand" that the Thai tax people like is "any work activity, whether you get compensation or not for this activity, is considered work".

And for any "work activity" you need a work permit and your income is taxable in Thailand.

For practical purposes it probably isn't worth the tax people's time to bother you because the tax rate is low anyhow,

But, all it would take is one Thai who wants to harass you and report you as working illegally, and you're in trouble.

Just be warned.

Yes, you're budget is possible, but you'll need to make some compromises, You'll learn them however.

The one big thing is to avoid the bars and especially the bargirls.

It;s not that you can't, but you'll soon learn that much of the money you could have spent on other things will end up buying booze and "companionship" in those bars if you let it.

Unless you really need it I would stick with a one room apartment and not a rented house.

If you're in Bangkok, learn to eat Thai food and take BUSES around Bangkok not taxis.

The non air-conditioned buses are not fun, but they are the cheapest way to get around Bangkok.... they can be a hassle however

It will just take you a little while to learn how to compromise between what you want to do and what you can afford to do.

There are 7 people living in my family in this house, and we get by reasonably well on 50K Baht monthly. (3 of them have jobs and contribute to the family monthly expenses).

In my case however, my Thai girl friend owns the house ... so we don't pay rent to a landlord.

Rent is a big expense .... watch the cost of that.

[IMA_FARANG]

For those without insurance. Yes, paying for a runny nose is cheap out of pocket, but what about a car crash and a week in intensive care maybe with an operation? That will run you into the hundreds of thousands of baht. I sure hope you have that money lying around.

I don't think I can reasonably get real health insurance in LOS due to my age. It's one of the oft unmentioned things about the cost of living in LOS vs the West. I have full coverage Medicare Advantage in the US for $125 a month, but it's no good when living in LOS.

For those without insurance. Yes, paying for a runny nose is cheap out of pocket, but what about a car crash and a week in intensive care maybe with an operation? That will run you into the hundreds of thousands of baht. I sure hope you have that money lying around.

I don't think I can reasonably get real health insurance in LOS due to my age. It's one of the oft unmentioned things about the cost of living in LOS vs the West. I have full coverage Medicare Advantage in the US for $125 a month, but it's no good when living in LOS.

------------

I know what you mean there,

I am retired and supposed to get medicare/medicaid from Social Security.

Just got my annual notice.

I'm am getting a 1.3 percent increase in 2013 in my Social Security benefits,

At the same time my medicare/medicaid contribution was increased to $115 monthly.

Net result ... I lost $15 a month in Social Security benefits to pay for so-called health benefits I can't use here in Thailand.

Whatever,

[inthepink]

If you eat local noodle and food on street you go under 100baht each meal as many down and outer farang do here.After some time i think you will want to buy your own choice at supermarket but still cheap. of course farang food always expensive here and farang owned pub and hotel want ridiculous amount for food and beer.best to avoid for this and many other reason to

What a silly comment. My lunch costs me 40 baht every day. If I wanted to pay more I would have to drive into town just for the pleasure. The only sort of people that would worry about being perceived as a down and out because they eat cheap meals are those that want to give the impression they have more money than they actually do. If your post is serious, you are quite sad.

To the OP. Re. online work, I would follow others' advice and don't broadcast what you are doing. However, contrary to what another person said about a Thai person dobbing you in, I think it's more likely that some bitter foreigner would cause trouble for you. From my experience, Thai people couldn't care less what you do in the privacy of your own home.

Edited December 21, 2012 by inthepink

[somtampet]

Having already gone to the expense of building a place upcountry, I could easily live there on 10k a month including household bills, food and Thai whisky at 120 baht a bottle!

Renting a place could be as little as 2k a month, depends on where and what you want. My Thai is poor, I don't gamble but I enjoy the mountains, waterfalls, fishing and generally chilling. I do download lots of movies and TV series to watch of an evening and I have a couple of dogs and a rai of land to potter about on.

Simple needs?

The High So's will be along shortly to tell you that you are up for Cheap Charlie of the year and that you shouldn't be living in Thailand if your not bringing in at least Half a million Baht a month to live on. It's ok because we don't take any notice of them either !

wish this was on pattayalive,hi-so Alex would have a field day,tell u to go back home and die there lol

[TommoPhysicist]

If you eat local noodle and food on street you go under 100baht each meal as many down and outer farang do here.After some time i think you will want to buy your own choice at supermarket but still cheap. of course farang food always expensive here and farang owned pub and hotel want ridiculous amount for food and beer.best to avoid for this and many other reason to

What a silly comment. My lunch costs me 40 baht every day. If I wanted to pay more I would have to drive into town just for the pleasure. The only sort of people that would worry about being perceived as a down and out because they eat cheap meals are those that want to give the impression they have more money than they actually do. If your post is serious, you are quite sad.

To the OP. Re. online work, I would follow others' advice and don't broadcast what you are doing. However, contrary to what another person said about a Thai person dobbing you in, I think it's more likely that some bitter foreigner would cause trouble for you. From my experience, Thai people couldn't care less what you do in the privacy of your own home.

I won't talk about the village I live in cos it's so cheap you wouldn't be interested.

But in CM,

a blowout curry with rice at Sausage King 99bht (or full English breakfast)

Chicken with basil and rice (grapow) 35bht

Chicken with noodles and bean sprouts (Pat Thai) 30bht

Add another 20bht for a drink, or 50bht for a beer.

I don't consider myself a down and out, but apart from SK I do mainly eat as the Thais do in Thai places.

[inthepink]

My chicken with basil and rice is 40 baht because I have an egg with it! (same area)

Edited December 21, 2012 by inthepink

[TommoPhysicist]

Mine is 40 baht because I have an egg with it! (same area)

You clearly have money to throw about!

(and I'm always a little wary of asking for 'rat' in a restaurant)

Edited December 21, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[tingtongtourist]

If you eat local noodle and food on street you go under 100baht each meal as many down and outer farang do here.After some time i think you will want to buy your own choice at supermarket but still cheap. of course farang food always expensive here and farang owned pub and hotel want ridiculous amount for food and beer.best to avoid for this and many other reason to

What a silly comment. My lunch costs me 40 baht every day. If I wanted to pay more I would have to drive into town just for the pleasure. The only sort of people that would worry about being perceived as a down and out because they eat cheap meals are those that want to give the impression they have more money than they actually do. If your post is serious, you are quite sad.

To the OP. Re. online work, I would follow others' advice and don't broadcast what you are doing. However, contrary to what another person said about a Thai person dobbing you in, I think it's more likely that some bitter foreigner would cause trouble for you. From my experience, Thai people couldn't care less what you do in the privacy of your own home.

I won't talk about the village I live in cos it's so cheap you wouldn't be interested.

But in CM,

a blowout curry with rice at Sausage King 99bht (or full English breakfast)

Chicken with basil and rice (grapow) 35bht

Chicken with noodles and bean sprouts (Pat Thai) 30bht

Add another 20bht for a drink, or 50bht for a beer.

I don't consider myself a down and out, but apart from SK I do mainly eat as the Thais do in Thai places.

I didnt mean to say you are down and out because you eat the cheap food, I do it to, because that food is a nice change sometimes, of course most of us do that at sometimes.

My point that some do live here on a shoestring budget and have no choice but to search for the cheapest. I even known one farang that goes to a temple that has food for 20 baht, says its not the money, is that they make it better and he like to support them.

Feel sorry for people like this but really i think they must of mismanaged life if they want to live here but must live like that.

Plenty of poor Thai here already, they dont need the farang who thai government probably will end up having to support when they go into bad health.

[Konini]

Dare I throw this one in.

I see a lot of posts on living here on XXXXXX a month from people who are in their 20's/30's, great fun and enjoyable. Been there, seen that, done that.

Why do I never see anyone asking questions on the line of, Do you or any of your friends save any money in a good private pension scheme for your old age?

Believe me it feels like you went to bed one night in your 30's and woke up the next day in your 60's. ( Time flies, you can't, they pass too quickly) sorry.

Interested to know how many of you have made plans on those lines. Seems unimportant when you're younger but it sure is worth it. Believe me.

I agree with this, I can't impress on you enough how important this is. You need to try and supplement your income, more work online, and rather than add it to your monthly budget divert it directly into a capital guaranteed investment for when you get older. I don't know US tax laws but in UK and Australia there are tax benefits to this as well. You need to build a nest egg. As above, one day you'll wake up and you'll be in your 60's and there are 7 year olds who can do your job better than you for less money. Or even if that doesn't happen, do you want to work until the day you die? If you don't have a nest egg you'll have no choice. Will you get a pension or superannuation from your government when you reach retirement age?

Remember too that you won't be the same person. You'll look in the mirror and think 'Who is that old b@!#d?' You'll move your computer and find your arms aren't yours, they are an old man's arms and not strong like yours are. The lift will be out of order and your knees all of a sudden belong not to you but to an old man. You'll struggle to get up one flight of stairs instead of running up them like yours would; how high is your room?

Don't want to be negative, but what happens if your job goes. Whatever reason, just one day your 49,000 a month isn't there. Do you have a plan B? You need some money to live on until you secure work again. Try and get yourself a plan B in place BEFORE you make the move.

As someone who migrated to the other side of the world when I was in my early 20's, I can tell you the best way to do this is not commit yourself to living in Thailand. You're on holiday, but of course you have to do your work to maintain your income. We holidayed in New Zealand for 18 months before deciding it wasn't where we wanted to be, so we holidayed in Australia for a year to see if we liked it. Within a week we knew we did, but we kept the 'holiday' mindset as it would make it easier if we hated it there and ended up going home. You're on an extended holiday and going home sooner or later. Move around, see where you feel at home. Take a 6 month lease on a room. Tell yourself your on holiday, just testing the waters to see if you want to live in Thailand. Take a few years doing this, a nice long holiday. And if you like where you stay, you can stay there for a month or a year or 5 years or forever. Have the mindset that you're on holiday and stay in different places for a few months. We stayed in Bangkok for 2 months, no way at all we could stay there forever, too noisy and buzy. We went south to the islands, nice holiday but not forever. We ended up in Chiang Mai and felt at home as soon as we arrived. The climate is nice - it gets chilly at night this time of year. The people are nice, there are a lot of retired ex pats and younger people working online like yourself. There isn't the sex tourism or sexpats that you get in some of the other cities. It's there if you want it, but it's not in your face, you have to go and find it. I feel that in comparison to other parts of Thailand It's relaxed. We have immigration and the Mai Sai border run is about 3 or 4 hours drive each way and about an hour to get through and back, 750baht in a mini bus. Or you can get a bus and stay longer, I think you can stay in Burma for a few nights. Maybe you'll like Mai Sai and stay there. In CM There are a lot of very good western restaurants. If it's your thing McDonalds and Burger King (once in a while I get a craving and just have to have a Whopper) they're here. Maybe it will be too laid back for you, you don't know if you don't stay here for a while. Some people love the buzz of being in a big city, some people love being by the beach, some people love being in the mountains. You don't know which you'll like better until you try them. Just prepare yourself for a long holiday. Stay in Bangkok for 6 months, from there you can easily get to Pattaya and Hua Hin on day trips or weekends away. Then go to Phuket or Samui or both for 6 months. See if you like being by the beach. Then head north east to Issan, then over to Chiang Mai, maybe up to Chiang Rai; some people prefer it to Chiang Mai, no idea why, but that's the point of this. You don't know if you are going to like somewhere unless you have a 6 month working holiday in it. It'll take you a good couple of years to have all of these holidays, by then you should know if you definitely want to settle, you'll find a place that feels like home, that you fit into perfectly.

Good luck to you, make sure you have medical insurance, it's vital. And someone said earlier in the thread that the Thai girls will eat you alive. They will if you let them, but there are a lot of really nice girls. The majority of them are nice, but the predators are hidden amongst them and can smell suckers a mile away and bleed them dry. Don't let it happen to you.

[astral]

Khun Jean has it right

The money is not a problem if you are content to lead simple life style

The problem is the country does not want young people like you to stay for long periods.

An education visa to learn Thai will buy you a year, but you do need to attend classes,

On the other side that will help you with the basics of life.

After that it becomes much more difficult.

You need to read through the Visa Forum and see just what is involved

[Styx]

Feel sorry for people like this but really i think they must of mismanaged life if they want to live here but must live like that.

Plenty of poor Thai here already, they dont need the farang who thai government probably will end up having to support when they go into bad health.

Thai government won't support anyone especially not a broke farang...

Edited December 21, 2012 by astral
No need for long quotes, please edit or use the Reply button

[mickjn]

I live on that easy up country,and can save

[wamberal]

I live on that easy up country,and can save

If you are living off investments, you need to save some of your income, to negate the effect of inflation. Unless your income comes from growth assets, and most retired expats seem not to have income from growth assets, for some reason.

[tingtongtourist]

Feel sorry for people like this but really i think they must of mismanaged life if they want to live here but must live like that.

Plenty of poor Thai here already, they dont need the farang who thai government probably will end up having to support when they go into bad health.

Thai government won't support anyone especially not a broke farang...

Ok so what does happen if a farang get admitted to the hospital unconscious, then get treated and hospital find he have no money..blood out of a rock?

[Thaddeus]

Feel sorry for people like this but really i think they must of mismanaged life if they want to live here but must live like that.

Plenty of poor Thai here already, they dont need the farang who thai government probably will end up having to support when they go into bad health.

Thai government won't support anyone especially not a broke farang...

Ok so what does happen if a farang get admitted to the hospital unconscious, then get treated and hospital find he have no money..blood out of a rock?

That depends on if the rock is still alive.

[NeverSure]

Health care for seniors in LOS is the elephant in the room. No one seems to want to see it or acknowledge it. At my age I can't get it, and it could ruin me. If I was healthy enough to travel, I'd have to go packing back to the States where I have full coverage Medicare Advantage for $125 a month. It is a gamble for sure.

I just had a very good exchange with a mod on here about why it might be just as cheap to live rural in the State of Alabama in the States as it is in LOS.

I'm going to start another thread on alternatives.

[Khun Jean]

I am 48 and health insurance IS the biggest problem. Many will happily insure you (with low maximum insured amounts) until a certain age and then kick you out.

I have insurance and an emergency fund, but still if that problem can not be solved adequately returning to a country which has a good system in place is a highly probable future.

[poanoi]

You're gonna die anyway so why worry ?

[culicine]

Don't forget about insurance, you don't want to end up without money when in a small accident.

Can cost you more than you think. And save some money for the return ticket.

I suggest that before you go to Thailand you have at least 5.000 us$ (more is better) on your account, only to be used in emergencies.

For some reason, this post makes me sad.

Is this what traveling the World, free as a bird, at 25 has become?

Right. As a non US citizen, I'd never go to the US without insurance......

[wamberal]

You're gonna die anyway so why worry ?

Surely most of us want to enjoy the best of health before we die, though, meaning that we will need to be able to afford good health care when life's inevitable challenges occur?

Or are you prepared to contemplate an early death, because you cannot afford a hip replacement that you need, for example?

[poanoi]

Yes

[Konini]

You're gonna die anyway so why worry ?

Surely most of us want to enjoy the best of health before we die, though, meaning that we will need to be able to afford good health care when life's inevitable challenges occur?

Or are you prepared to contemplate an early death, because you cannot afford a hip replacement that you need, for example?

Not only an early death, but I would imagine a pretty miserable life.

I really hope you're taking notice of the responses here. You can't even consider coming over without insurance. It just isn't worth it. You don't need fancy insurance with all the bells and whistles, but you do need insurance.

[bikkalad]

Yep you should be ok..........but with a "Teerak" your gonna be stumped......... I wish you all the best

[advancebooking]

Don't forget about insurance, you don't want to end up without money when in a small accident.

Can cost you more than you think. And save some money for the return ticket.

I suggest that before you go to Thailand you have at least 5.000 us$ (more is better) on your account, only to be used in emergencies.

For some reason, this post makes me sad.

Is this what traveling the World, free as a bird, at 25 has become?

to be envious is to be the lesser man

[jpinx]

You're gonna die anyway so why worry ?

Surely most of us want to enjoy the best of health before we die, though, meaning that we will need to be able to afford good health care when life's inevitable challenges occur?

Or are you prepared to contemplate an early death, because you cannot afford a hip replacement that you need, for example?

Not only an early death, but I would imagine a pretty miserable life.

I really hope you're taking notice of the responses here. You can't even consider coming over without insurance. It just isn't worth it. You don't need fancy insurance with all the bells and whistles, but you do need insurance.

Assuming you can get it.

[jpinx]

Health care for seniors in LOS is the elephant in the room. No one seems to want to see it or acknowledge it. At my age I can't get it, and it could ruin me. If I was healthy enough to travel, I'd have to go packing back to the States where I have full coverage Medicare Advantage for $125 a month. It is a gamble for sure.

I just had a very good exchange with a mod on here about why it might be just as cheap to live rural in the State of Alabama in the States as it is in LOS.

I'm going to start another thread on alternatives.

Rural Alabama is an alternative ?